Bronson Arroyo is on pace to make more than 30 starts for the Reds for the eighth consecutive season. / The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II

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On Aug. 20, 2047, 70-year-old Bronson Arroyo will make his 1,447th consecutive start for the Cincinnati Reds. His guide dogs, Eddie and Vedder, will lead him to the mound, where he will deliver warm-up tosses to Reds bullpen catcher Bronson Arroyo Jr., his son, who retired from the major leagues a decade earlier.

Legally blind and pitching on two artificial hips, Arroyo nevertheless gives the Reds six solid innings, mixing his 40-mile-an-hour-fastball with an assortment of breaking pitches best timed by sundial. Afterward, Arroyo says, “I kept my team in the game, man. Same as I’ve done for 45 years. Arm feels great.’’

You want to know why the Reds will pass Pittsburgh and possibly St. Louis, to win their third NL Central title in four years? Look no further than Arroyo’s cubicle at GABP. Actually, look a little further, to his right and left, to the spaces occupied by Homer Bailey, Mike Leake and, across the doorway, Mat Latos.

It’s no coincidence those three locker by Arroyo. His professionalism is contagious. As Latos noted, “You watch him, you pick up on things. Guy’s been in the league 50 frickin’ years. Hasn’t missed a frickin’ start.’’

Actually, Arroyo started his 257th consecutive game as Red in Monday night's 5-3 win against the Diamondbacks, and his 355th overall. He has a right arm built at the Flubber Factory, yes. (Old Guy reference. Look it up.) But he also works his aspirations off. And he embodies The Club’s biggest advantage between now and October: Its durable and effective starting pitching.

Let St. Louis and Pittsburgh juggle starters like hand grenades. The Reds sail steady as she goes. Every starter takes the ball every fifth day, and almost always is competitive.

Of course, Johnny Cueto isn’t among them, and at this rate, will not be. But for the second year in a row, the Reds starters have been as reliable as the IRS on April 15. The importance of this cannot be overestimated. They are mature major-league starters, who know how to take care of themselves, between starts and in the offseason.

The Reds will not go into September worried about innings limits or pitch counts, or the guts of a 22-year-old just off the Greyhound. “We’re not kids,’’ Latos said. “We should be able to handle our business, without a babysitter. We know what we need to do.’’

It’s nice to have a Jaguar in the garage. But only if it runs.

Some numbers:

The Reds have used seven starting pitchers this year. One was Greg Reynolds, brought in to pitch Game 2 of a doubleheader. Pittsburgh has used 11 starters, St. Louis nine. Overall, the Reds have used 18 pitchers, four of whom have pitched seven or fewer innings, total.

Pittsburgh has needed 25 arms, St. Louis 24.

The Pirates are walking their own plank, partly because their starting pitchers are starting to flounder. One, Jeff Locke, has been blasted regularly since making the All-Star team. Either Locke has a weary arm or the league has him figured out. Regardless, he’s in deep.

Another, rookie Gerrit Cole, likely will be on an innings limit and could be shelved by Labor Day. That leaves (1) Charlie Morton, recently returned from Tommy John surgery; (2) 36-year-old A.J. Burnett (two wins in 15 starts since May 3), and (3) Francisco Liriano, a scrap-heap guy having a tremendous year.

The Cardinals are better off, but they can’t go five-deep the way the Reds do. After big-gamers Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn, and 22-year-old rookie Shelby Miller, they scuffle. And, as Dusty Baker noted, “Starting pitching’s not necessarily going to take you’’ to a championship. “But it’s going to get you close.’’

Credit for this goes everywhere: The trainers, the medical staff. Baker and pitching coach Bryan Price. The pitchers themselves. Good, healthy starting pitching will win lots of games in the September maze.

“Knock on wood,’’ said Latos. “But we have great work ethic and a great training staff. We’re not scuffling. We’re not feeling sore. And we don’t want to let down 24 other guys.’’

Ol’ Man Arroyo pitched Monday night. He made his 355th start in a row. He’s 36 years old. Just getting warmed up.